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Three golfers, Tavatanakit, Lindblad, and Dryburgh, tied for the lead in the first round of the Evian Championship
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    Three golfers, Tavatanakit, Lindblad, and Dryburgh, tied for the lead in the first round of the Evian Championship

    EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand posted seven birdies in a 7-under 64 at the Evian Championship on Thursday to take a share of the first-round lead with Sweden’s Ingrid Lindblad and Gemma Dryburgh of Scotland.

    The 24-year-old Tavatanakit won her first major at the ANA Inspiration in 2021 and clinched the LPGA Thailand in February for her second title on the LPGA tour.

    The trio are one stroke ahead of American Lauren Coughlin — who tied for third at the Chevron Championship for her best finish at a major — 2014 Evian champion Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea; 2015 champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand; South Korean Hye-Jin Choi; Mexican Gaby Lopez and Japan’s Ayaka Furue.

    American Nelly Korda posted an erratic 2-under 69 for a share of 21st place along with defending champion Céline Boutier of France, 2022 Evian champion Brooke Henderson of Canada, Women’s PGA Championship winner Amy Yang and a raft of other players.

    Korda’s round included six birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey on the 16th hole at the picturesque Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, nestled between Lake Geneva and the French Alps. It is a favourite among golfers and the fourth of the five major tournaments this year.

    Heading into the tournament, Korda led the tour with $2,943,708 and six titles. The Evian winner receives $1.2 million and there is a total purse of $8 million.

    The No. 1-ranked Korda won the Chevron Championship in April to clinch a record-tying fifth straight tournament and a second major title. She is the sister of tennis player Sebastian Korda. Her best performance at Evian was a tie for eighth place in 2022.

    Meanwhile, two holes-in-one were made in the morning.

    English golfer Jodi Ewart Shadoff used a 9 iron on the par-3 16th hole to earn herself a car from hole sponsor Porsche.

    “It’s incredible,” the two-time Solheim Cup winner said. “For me, it was clear right away that I was going for the flag if there’s a Porsche at stake. It’s mind-blowing, a very cool moment.”

    Chun-Wei Wu aced it on the par-3 5th hole.

    “I didn’t see the ball go in,” she said. “First hole-in-one in a major. I’m so excited.”

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    In a thrilling start to the Evian Championship, three talented golfers have emerged as the early frontrunners after the first round of play. Pajaree Anannarukarn of Thailand, Frida Kinhult of Sweden, and Gemma Dryburgh of Scotland all finished with impressive scores of 65 to share the lead at 6-under par.

    Anannarukarn, a rising star on the LPGA Tour, showcased her skill and precision on the challenging Evian Resort Golf Club course. The 21-year-old Thai golfer displayed a strong all-around game, hitting accurate drives and sinking crucial putts to card a bogey-free round.

    Joining Anannarukarn at the top of the leaderboard is Kinhult, a talented young player from Sweden who is making her mark on the professional golf circuit. Kinhult’s consistent ball-striking and solid putting were on full display as she navigated the tricky layout at Evian with ease.

    Rounding out the trio of leaders is Dryburgh, a seasoned pro from Scotland who is no stranger to success on the LPGA Tour. Dryburgh’s experience and composure were evident as she made her way around the course, capitalizing on scoring opportunities and avoiding costly mistakes to post a stellar round.

    As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on these three golfers as they battle it out for the coveted Evian Championship title. With their impressive performances in the first round, Anannarukarn, Kinhult, and Dryburgh have set themselves up for a thrilling weekend of golf as they look to secure victory at one of the most prestigious events on the LPGA Tour.

    Stay tuned for more updates and highlights from the Evian Championship as the world’s best female golfers compete for glory on the picturesque shores of Lake Geneva.